2K Classic Consolation: Virginia Tech vs. Washington (11.17.17)

Virginia Tech guard Justin Bibbs (10) boxes out Washington forward Hameir Wright in the lane during the second half of the consolation game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Consolation: Virginia Tech vs. Washington (11.17.17)

Washington head coach Mike Hopkins stands on the sidelines during the second half of the consolation game of the 2K Classic against Virginia Tech at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Consolation: Virginia Tech vs. Washington (11.17.17)

Virginia Tech guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (4) stands at the free throw line during the second half of the consolation game of the 2K Classic against Washington at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Rodney Bullock (5) attempts a layup during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Saint Louis at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis head coach Travis Ford stands on the sidelines and looks out onto the court during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Kyron Cartwright (24) attempts a layup during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Saint Louis at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Maliek White (4) drives into the lane on Saint Louis guard Davell Roby and forward Hasahn French (22) during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis guard Jordan Goodwin (0) catches an inbounds pass during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Makai Ashton-Langford (1) goes upward for a layup during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Saint Louis at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence head coach Ed Cooley stands on the sidelines next to official Brian Dorsey during the first half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Saint Louis at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis guard Jordan Goodwin (0) possesses the ball and looks for a teammate during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis forward Javon Bess (3) possesses the ball on the perimeter and is guarded by Providence forward Isaiah Jackson during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Rodney Bullock (5) boxes out Saint Louis guard Jordan Goodwin (0) after a shot is attempted during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Rodney Bullock (right) battles for the ball with Saint Louis guard Davell Roby during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis forward D.J. Foreman (1) attempts a layup during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis forward Javon Bess (3) drives towards the basket on Providence guard Drew Edwards during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

The Saint Louis University mascot performs on the court while holding a t-shirt during a timeout in the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis guard Jordan Goodwin (0) goes up for a shot during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis forward Hasahn French (22) goes up for a shot attempt during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis forward Hasahn French (22) dunks the ball during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Saint Louis guard Jordan Goodwin (0) goes up to attempt a jumper during the second half of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Providence at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Rodney Bullock (right) accepts a trophy after being named to the All-Tournament team at the end of the championship game of the 2K Classic against Saint Louis at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Members of the Providence College basketball team celebrate and hold the trophy after defeating Saint Louis in the championship game of the 2K Classic inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence head coach Ed Cooley smiles during the postgame celebrations after the Friars defeated Saint Louis in the championship game of the 2K Classic inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

Providence guard Maliek White kisses the championship trophy after the Friars defeated Saint Louis in the championship game of the 2K Classic inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

2K Classic Championship: Providence vs. Saint Louis (11.17.17)

The Providence College cheerleaders celebrate while holding the tournament banner in the postgame celebrations of the Friars winning the championship game of the 2K Classic inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

NEW YORK — It should be no surprise that the Providence Friars made themselves at home at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

Before playing in the Big East Tournament in March, Providence went through a tournament basketball dress rehearsal, playing – and winning – the 2K Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, defeating the Saint Louis Billikens 90-63 in the championship game on Friday night. In the 80 minutes the Friars played at Madison Square Garden, including a 77-70 victory over Washington in the semifinals on Thursday night, they trailed for a combined five minutes and 33 seconds while possessing the lead for over 71 of those minutes.

The Friars won both games using a balanced offensive attack, with five players scoring in double figures in the win over the Huskies on Thursday and then four players with 10 or more points in tonight’s win over the Billikens. Senior guard Rodney Bullock led Providence in scoring in both games, putting up 15 points in the championship game. Off the bench, guards Makai Ashton-Langford and Maliek White each scored 11 points tonight, combining to make all nine of their field goal attempts. White was a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, leading a long-range effort by the Friars in which they made nine of their 10 threes attempted against Saint Louis.

Point guard Kyron Cartwright ended up taking home the Most Valuable Player Award in the tournament, averaging 9.5 points and 6.5 assists in the two games for the Friars.

In the consolation game on Friday night, Virginia Tech bounced back from its loss to Saint Louis on Thursday and routed Washington 103-79, marking the third time in four games to start the season that the Hokies have scored over 100 points. Guard Justin Bibbs led the Hokies with 30 points in the game as Virginia Tech raced out to a 31-point halftime lead (59-28), powered by hitting 11 of its 14 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes. Junior guard Ahmed Hill scored 23 points for Virginia Tech while hitting all six of his threes, and freshman guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20 points, the third time the Canadian has scored at least 20 points in his first four games as a collegian.

*Editor’s note: Above the byline and story is the photo gallery from Friday night’s games, with all photos taken by our senior photographer, Robert Cole. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 27 pictures in total.

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